Klarinet Archive - Posting 001266.txt from 2003/03

From: Kenneth Wolman <kenneth.wolman@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Dentures
Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2003 15:31:39 -0500

At 07:06 PM 3/31/2003 +0000, you wrote:
>I am interested to hear from fellow clarinetists who still manage to
>play despite having full lower dentures. I have heard of players who
>ceased to play after having lost their lower teeth. I have continued to
>play for the past fifteen or so years with a lower set.. The main problem
>area is in controlling vibrato depth/frequency. Are there many more
>stubborn masochists like myself out there ? Harold Troughton,
>Merseyside UK

I've had partials with a 90% full bottom since 1996. With my teeth out I
look like I belong in a redneck joke:-). I picked up the clarinet in 1997
after years of not playing, so my remembered experience is built around
"store teeth." The question came up once...I may be have been the one who
raised it!...about playing with 'em or without 'em. Total uninformed
guesswork: I suppose you can play either way(???), but it becomes a
consistency thing--if you're going to do one or t'other, do it that way all
the time, otherwise the embouchure goes to hell.

The only problem I've found playing the clarinet and sax is a tendency to
drool that I suspect has to do with how well the objects fit. I know, this
sounds disgusting, and I apologize to our younger members who can't imagine
all these alter kockers clicking their wooden teeth together so it sounds
like the Symphonie Fantastique witches' Sabbath. I assure you, though,
having to look at your own Pomarico mouthpiece after 20 minutes is far worse.

I'll put up with the drool, with dentu-creme, or Krazy Glu. Playus ergo
sum:-).

ken

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Kenneth
Wolman http://www.kenwolman.com
http://kenwolman.blogspot.com
"The Almighty respects me when I work, but he loves me when I sing" --
Rabindranath Tagore

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